Gray Salvaged Dresser

Remember when I posted this photo on Instagram? I was driving my daughter to school on trash day a couple months ago and there was this dresser sitting on the side of the road in someone’s trash. I eyed it as we passed by and thought “I need to go back for that on my way back home”. So, I dropped her off and was on my way to the grocery store when I remembered the dresser. I figured groceries could wait, so back to the dresser I went! I pulled up to the dresser and looked it over. It had a tiny bit of damage to a drawer and another drawer needed to be nailed back together, but other than that, it was in decent shape. Plus the fact that it had the original casters on it. Well, I was sold and that baby needed to come home with me right away!Easy enough, right? I’ll just pop the trunk on my car, put it in there, and drive it home. Right? Well, not so much. I picked the dresser up and hoisted it into my trunk only to find it wouldn’t fit. You know how the top of dressers have a lip on them that’s larger than the rest of the piece? Well, that lip was making the piece not fit. Irritated, I put the dresser back down on the ground and stood there wondering what to do next. I had my younger daughter in the car, so I couldn’t fold seats down or put it in the seating area of the car at all. Hmmm, what to do. Well, I guess I could plausibly walk the dresser home. It’s only a few blocks. But then I’d have to bring my daughter with me and leave my car here. And then walk all the way back. Let alone the fact that I can’t carry this thing that far, so I’d have to roll it down the sidewalk on those pretty little casters all the way home. This idea was sounding worse and worse as I thought it through!I decided I needed to try to get this thing in my car again. I wasn’t walking it home and I wasn’t leaving it here. No way! So, I tried putting it in feet first. If the lip was making it not fit, this should work, right? Well, pretty much! I could only jam it in about 4 inches, so most of the dresser was hanging out of my car. Good news – I didn’t live too far away. So, my daughter (too young to be embarrassed – yet!) and I slow rolled our way home as I prayed over and over again “please Lord don’t let it fall out, please Lord don’t let it fall out”!I think I’ll remember this story for the rest of my life! I certainly was determined to get the dresser home! And I’m pretty sure the previous owners of said dresser were home and watching me and thought I was totally crazy. Which just makes it that much better! But you know what? I absolutely love saving furniture out of the trash! It gives me such a rush to grab that piece before it ends up gone and lost forever. I really wish people wouldn’t throw this stuff away. It doesn’t take that much work to get it in working order again. But I suppose not everyone has the tools, time, or desire to fix up furniture. I guess I should just start handing out my card around town and telling people to call me before they throw any furniture away! To get this dresser spruced back up, I had my hubby nail the drawer back together and I lightly sanded the rough spot on the other drawer. I figured it gave the piece a bit of character, so I left it there – just smoothed it out a little. I was planning to just paint the whole piece, but at the last minute, I decided I should sand the top down. I used our orbital sander to get most of the stain and varnish off and used a small “mouse” sander on the edges. I painted the body with Maison Blanche furniture paint in Silver Mink and waxed it with a mixture of Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture wax and antiquing wax. I wanted to dull the antiquing wax down a little because I only wanted it slightly darker. I just mixed them together with a spoon, applied it in small sections, and wiped it off almost immediately. I added a little more antiquing wax to what I had left of my mixture and waxed the top. I’ve never waxed a natural wood top before, but I absolutely love the look! It gave it a little bit warmer look than just raw wood, but it still looks natural and rustic.I really love this little dresser and am so happy I was able to salvage it! These kind of pieces make me the happiest because I feel like I saved them from being forgotten forever. Which makes me curious. Do you “trash pick” furniture? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below or on my Facebook page!Pssst … curious about this room? See more here:

I love this piece & color so much!!! The staging & placement in the living room against the white wall is gorgeous! Your living room is gorgeous with all the changes happening &screams character & charm ! Happy weekend!!

Love the dresser!! The color is great! What a find!! I never pass up a good find.. Just today I was leaving a friends house and noticed a garden bench on the curb that was not there when I went into her house. Well…. I had her call the neighbor. Yay !!! He had just put it out. He said he had spilled a little gasoline on the boards and didn’t think he could get it out!! Well. ..not me. I put that bench in the back of my SUV and brought it home to other great finds.. ..I have friends call me when they see something on the side of the road they think I could use.. Love it!!! I enjoy reading your post!!

Love what you did to this sweet dresser. About 12 years ago my friend and I were at a yard sale. There was an old oak gentleman’s wardrobe with about 5 coats of paint for $7.00. I could not pass it up and you would have enjoyed watching us trying to get it in her already packed Ford Explode. It took me days to get rid of the paint. Now, after seeing your dresser all fresh and charming, I think I just might paint my piece. And yes, I am not too proud to pick up great pieces from the curb. Like you, I don’t like to see the old, all wood, sturdy furniture in the trash..